The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-07-02

Pablie Opinion.
Does the Devil preach anywhere to-
nightf' asked citizen on the street
corner, Sunday evening,
Il don't understand your ques-
tion," responded the scibe.
sWell ! see all the churches are
closed, said he, land / thought if
Uncle Nick held forth any place l
would take the opportunity to hear
the other side"
at is the summer season" sug-
gested the scribe, ''and the ministers
are taking little rest"
That's matter of taste" rejoin
ed the citizen, "but / have not seen
more balmy, delightful evening in
twelve months. 1t is just such an
evening, it seems to me, as people
would want to go into the house of
worship and listen to the expound-
ing of the word, and sing songs of
praise | don't know how people
could be more pleasantly or profita-
employed"
"You think even the fair weather
christians would turn out tonight"
1T looks to me he continued, as if
even the fair weather christians
were becoming demoralized in Nor
gantown. This used to be a church
going community. 1t has "A name
abroad for that. But, now there are
whole families who never go inside
church families who are descend
ants of old patriachs of the church
they spend Sunday sleeping, eat
ing and reading novels in their
homes, and are raising their children
in that fashion. The young people
stroll around, buggy-ride and dissi
pate on Sunday, and if we had beer
gardens they would be full"
There's good deal Of truth in
that" rejoined the scribe
1T will not be but few year"
continued the citizen, till this town
will lose its character and standing
if this thing goes on. 1t will resem-
bic some of our manufacturing towns
or the new Western communities
made up of foreign population, who
have foreign ideas of Sabbath.
The people will lose moral tone and
refinement, the churches will be lone
ly on Sunday, and the quiet and re
spectacle habits of a Sunday in Nor
gantown will be among the things
that were
''There's no doubt" rejoined the
scribe. "that the reputation of a
community depends very much on
the manner in which it observes the
Sabbath. But how do you account
for the changed tendency of things
in Morgantown?
The christian ministers are largely
responsible for it. If they lightly
abandon their churches such even
ings as this, will not the masses of
the people conclude that public wor
ship is a matter of small moment
anyhow? viii not their example
relax the sense of obligation on the
part of the masses to attend public
worship; will it not open the way to
loose habits and idle indulgences on
the Sabbath; to a low moral tone, of
even the most conscientious chris
tians, in regard to Sabbath observ-
ance?"
II am not Authority on matters of
this kind, but my observation con-
vinces me that a community has
more at stake in it's churches and in
stated public worship than in any
other form of christian work. Cur
civilization depends on it. Abolish
the churches from community and
see how quick it will go to the bad.
Even we laymen recognize that.
Destroy the churches from any com
munity and property would depre
ciate fifty per cent"
Now" continued the citizen,
growing earnest with his theme, Il
have heard a good deal of complaint
by christian people and christian
ministers, about the lack of interest
in the churches and the small at
tendance on the public services. y
"What else can they expect.
Suppose any other organization
or society put forth no more energy
or work or effort to promote its in
terest than do the ministers and
church people of this town, how long
would it last? Suppose any indi-
vidual would conduct business as
indifferently and languidly, how
long till he would be bankrupt"
"Now, / think that public services
on the Sabbath are more important
to this town than the business of
any drug store or dry goods store,
or grocery is to It's owner. Sup
pose any merchant conducting such
business would shut up shop and
go home and take nap when he
felt little tired or sleepy, what
would become of his business?
Would not his customers abandon
him, if for no other reason, because
he lacked enterprise and energy.
What else can the ministers expect
when they shut up shop on the one
day in the week when they are ex-
pected to have all doors open and
the sign out? Are two hours of one
day out of seven too much for the
business of the churches?'
With this citizen turned on his
heel and the scribe went his way re-
fiecting.
Among the Churches.
The Fairmont Sunday schools will